Improved acute pain management in oncology patients using early scheduled contact with a pain coach.

293Background: Pain control is a challenging balance in the ambulatory oncology practice. Standard methods of pain reassessment resulted in poor pain control in the majority of patients given prescriptions for narcotics. We developed a proactive reassessment of pain using patient reported outcomes and a coach to assist in medication usage. The aim was to decrease the time to reassessment of pain to fewer than 5 days and achieve acceptable pain control in greater than 50% of patients receiving new narcotic prescriptions in an ambulatory oncology setting. Methods: Patients receiving a new narcotic prescription or a new dose were provided with a pain diary and an appointment with their pain coach at 48 hours. Using a standard pain scale 1-10, patients’ pain scores were recorded by the patient in their pain diary and communicated via nurse/patient phone contact at 48 hour intervals. Dosing intervention by the patient’s oncologist was made for unacceptable pain and reassessed at 48 hours. Uncontrolled pain at ...